Method for manufacturing light-emitting device

ABSTRACT

A method of manufacturing a light-emitting device includes applying a light-guiding member to a light-emitting element. A light-transmissive member is mounted on the light-guiding member, and the light-guiding member is cured. A width of the light-transmissive member is narrowed. Lateral surfaces of the light-transmissive member and lateral surfaces of the light-guiding member are covered.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation application of the U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/899,304 filed Feb. 19, 2018 which is acontinuation application of the U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/480,416 filed Apr. 6, 2017, which issued as the U.S. Pat. No.9,929,323, which claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2016-076829, filed on Apr. 6, 2016. The contents of these applicationsare hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a method for manufacturing alight-emitting device.

For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.2011-066193 (see FIG. 50 to FIG. 68) discloses methods for manufacturingoptical devices that include semiconductor substrates, optical elementsmounted on the semiconductor substrates, fluorescent material layerslayered on the optical elements, and reflective resin units covering thelateral surfaces of the optical elements and the fluorescent materiallayers.

In the methods for manufacturing optical devices disclosed in JapaneseUnexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2011-066193, fluorescentmaterial sheets are layered on optical element sheets, the opticalelement sheets and the fluorescent material sheets are cut together, andreflective resin layers are formed in the resulting grooves.Accordingly, the cutting width of the fluorescent material sheets isrequired to be large to ensure the reflective resin units covering thelateral surfaces of the fluorescent material layers.

Thus, an embodiment of the present disclosure has an object to provide amethod for manufacturing a light-emitting device in which the cuttingquantity of a light-transmissive member disposed on a light-emittingelement can be reduced and in which a covering member covering a lateralsurface of the light-transmissive member can have a sufficientthickness.

SUMMARY

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a method ofmanufacturing a light-emitting device includes applying a light-guidingmember to a light-emitting element. A light-transmissive member ismounted on the light-guiding member, and the light-guiding member iscured. A width of the light-transmissive member is narrowed. Lateralsurfaces of the light-transmissive member and lateral surfaces of thelight-guiding member are covered.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a schematic perspective view of a light-emitting deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the light-emitting deviceaccording to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of an illustrative substrate used formanufacturing the light-emitting device according to the embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 3A is a schematic cross-sectional view for illustrating a firststep in a method for manufacturing the light-emitting device accordingto the embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3B is a schematic cross-sectional view for illustrating a secondstep in the method for manufacturing the light-emitting device accordingto the embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3C is a schematic cross-sectional view for illustrating a thirdstep in the method for manufacturing the light-emitting device accordingto the embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3D is a schematic cross-sectional view for illustrating a fourthstep in the method for manufacturing the light-emitting device accordingto the embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3E is a schematic cross-sectional view for illustrating a fifthstep in the method for manufacturing the light-emitting device accordingto the embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following describes an embodiment of the disclosure referring to theaccompanying drawings as appropriate. A light-emitting device and amethod for manufacturing the light-emitting device to be described beloware intended to embody the technical concept of the present disclosureand are not intended to limit the present disclosure to the device andthe method below unless specifically stated otherwise. It is noted thatthere is a case where magnitudes or positional relations of membersillustrated in the drawings are exaggerated in order to clarify thedescriptions.

The visible wavelength range refers to the wavelength range of equal toor more than 380 nm and equal to or less than 780 nm, the blue rangerefers to the wavelength range of equal to or more than 420 nm and equalto or less than 480 nm, the green range refers to the wavelength rangeof equal to or more than 500 nm and equal to or less than 560 nm, theyellow range refers to the wavelength range of more than 560 nm andequal to or less than 590 nm, and the red range refers to the wavelengthrange of equal to or more than 610 nm and equal to or less than 750 nmherein.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are respectively a schematic perspective view and aschematic cross-sectional view of a light-emitting device 100 accordingto a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of an illustrativesubstrate 10 used for manufacturing the light-emitting device 100according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3A to FIG. 3E are schematiccross-sectional views for respectively illustrating first to fifth stepsin a method for manufacturing the light-emitting device 100 according tothe first embodiment.

In FIGS. 1A and 1B, the width direction of the light-emitting device 100is the X direction, the thickness direction is the Y direction, and thefront-back (depth) direction is the Z direction. Each of these X, Y, andZ directions (axes) is perpendicular to the other two directions (axes).More particularly, the right direction is the X₊ direction, the leftdirection is the X⁻ direction, the upper direction is the Y₊ direction,the lower direction is the Y⁻ direction, the front direction is the Z₊direction, and the back direction is the Z⁻ direction. The Y⁻ directionis the mounting direction of the light-emitting device 100. The Z₊direction is the main emitting direction of the light-emitting device100. The X, Y, and Z directions in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3A to FIG. 3Ecorrespond to the X, Y, and Z directions in FIGS. 1A and 1B. In FIG. 2and FIG. 3A to FIG. 3E, the X direction is the lateral direction, the Ydirection is the longitudinal direction, and the Z direction is theup-down direction. Hereinafter, the X direction is referred to as afirst direction, and the Y direction is referred to as a seconddirection.

(Light-Emitting Device 100)

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the light-emitting device 100 according tothe first embodiment includes a substrate piece 101,electrically-conductive adhesive members 20, a light-emitting element30, a light-guiding member 40, a light-transmissive member 50, and alight-reflective covering member 701. The substrate piece 101 includeswirings 111 and a base 151 supporting the wirings 111. Thelight-emitting element 30 is a light-emitting diode chip that is long inthe X direction and short in the Y direction. The light-emitting element30 is flip-chip mounted on the wirings 111 of the substrate piece viathe electrically-conductive adhesive members 20. The light-transmissivemember 50 is made by incorporating a wavelength conversion substance 60in a matrix 55. The light-transmissive member 50 is a rectangular-cuboidpiece that is long in the X direction and short in the Y direction. Thelight-transmissive member 50 is large enough to cover the entirelight-emitting element 30 in a front view. The light-transmissive member50 is bonded to the light-emitting element 30 with the light-guidingmember 40 sandwiched therebetween. The covering member 701 is made byincorporating a white pigment 77 in a matrix 75. The covering member 701is formed on the substrate piece 101 and covers the lateral surfaces ofthe light-emitting element 30, the lateral surfaces of the light-guidingmember 40, and the lateral surfaces of the light-transmissive member 50.The covering member 701 encompasses the entire side peripheries of thelight-emitting element 30 and the light-transmissive member 50. Thefront surface of the light-transmissive member 50 and the front surfaceof the covering member 701 constitute approximately the same surface.

The wirings 111 are obtained by singulating wirings 11 to be describedlater. The base 151 is obtained by singulating a base 15 to be describedlater. The covering member 701 is obtained by singulating a coveringmember 70 to be described later. The light-emitting element 30 includesa first light-emitting element 31 or a second light-emitting element 32to be described later. The light-transmissive member 50 includes a firstlight-transmissive member 51 or a second light-transmissive member 52 tobe described later.

For example, the light-emitting device 100 having such a constitution issoldered to a circuit substrate via an external-connecting terminalportion of a positive/negative electrode of the wirings 111 and emitslight if electricity is fed through a circuit. At this time, the highlight reflectance of the covering member 701 deflects forward much oflight laterally emitted from the light-emitting element 30 and thelight-transmissive member 50, and the main emitting region of thelight-emitting device 100 is thus the front surface of thelight-transmissive member 50.

(Method for Manufacturing Light-Emitting Device 100)

As shown in FIG. 2, the substrate 10 is a collective substrate in whicha plurality of substrate pieces 101 for light-emitting devices areconnected to one another. The substrate 10 includes the wirings 11 andthe base 15 supporting the wirings 11. The base 15 has a plurality ofthrough holes S, at regular intervals in the X direction, that penetratefrom the upper surface to the lower surface and are long in the Ydirection. On the upper surface of the substrate 10, light-emittingelements including the first light-emitting element 31 and the secondlight-emitting element 32 to be described later are mounted in a regionbetween two through holes S, more particularly, on the central portionof the region. In the region between the two through holes S, one wiring11 includes positive/negative element-connecting terminal portions onthe central portion of the upper surface of the base 15, apositive/negative external-connecting terminal portion disposed from aleft/right end portion of the upper surface of the base 15 to aleft/right end portion of the lower surface through the lateral surfaceof one through hole S, and lead wiring portions connecting theseterminal portions on the upper surface of the base 15. As describedabove, the region between the two through holes S of the substrate 10 isconstituted of a plurality of substrate pieces 101 for light-emittingdevices, the substrate pieces 101 connected to one another in the Ydirection. Cutting the region between the two through holes S in the Xdirection realizes singulation into individual substrate pieces 101 forlight-emitting devices.

As shown in FIG. 3A to FIG. 3E, the method for manufacturing thelight-emitting device 100 according to the first embodiment includes thefirst to fifth steps below in the order of the step numbers.

The first step is a step of flip-chip mounting the first light-emittingelement 31 and the second light-emitting element 32 separately from eachother on the substrate 10, as shown in FIG. 3A. That is,positive/negative electrodes of the first light-emitting element 31 andthe second light-emitting element 32 are respectively connected to thepositive/negative element-connecting terminal portions of the wirings 11via the electrically-conductive adhesive members 20. At this time, inthe case where the first light-emitting element 31 and the secondlight-emitting element 32 have rectangular shapes in a top view, thefirst light-emitting element 31 and the second light-emitting element 32are preferably mounted so that two lateral surfaces facing each otherwill be approximately parallel to each other in the X direction and sothat the other two lateral surfaces facing each other will beapproximately parallel to each other in the Y direction. Morespecifically, for example, electrically-conductive adhesive members (20)as a paste are applied to the positive/negative element-connectingterminal portions, the first light-emitting element 31 and the secondlight-emitting element 32 are mounted on the electrically-conductiveadhesive members (20), and the electrically-conductive adhesive members(20) are molten by heat treatment in a reflow oven or the like and thensolidified by cooling. Note that reference numbers in parentheses in thepresent specification and the drawings mean that the components are instates before their final forms.

The second step is a step, after the first step, of bonding the firstlight-transmissive member 51 having a first lateral surface 51L to thefirst light-emitting element 31 and bonding the secondlight-transmissive member 52 having a second lateral surface 52L to thesecond light-emitting element 32 so that the second lateral surface 52Lwill be separated from and face the first lateral surface 51L, as shownin FIG. 3B. At this time, in the case where the first light-emittingelement 31, the second light-emitting element 32, the firstlight-transmissive member 51, and the second light-transmissive member52 have rectangular shapes in a top view, the bonding is preferablyperformed so that the lateral surfaces of the first light-transmissivemember 51 and the second light-transmissive member 52 will beapproximately parallel to respective lateral surfaces of the firstlight-emitting element 31 and the second light-emitting element 32. Morespecifically, for example, light-guiding members (40) as a liquid areapplied to the first light-emitting element 31 and the secondlight-emitting element 32 mounted on the substrate 10, the firstlight-transmissive member 51 and the second light-transmissive member 52are mounted on the light-guiding members (40), and the light-guidingmembers (40) are cured by heat treatment in an oven or the like. A“liquid” in the present specification includes a sol and a slurry.

The first light-transmissive member 51 and the second light-transmissivemember 52 are produced, for example, by cutting a sheet into pieces,that is, singulating the sheet. A non-rotary blade is preferably usedfor cutting the sheet in view of ease of reducing the width of cut ofthe sheet. Examples of the non-rotary blade include a draw-cutting orpush-cutting cutter. To make the first lateral surface 51L and thesecond lateral surface 52L comparatively flat, ultrasonic waves arepreferably applied to the non-rotary blade. This cutting of the sheet isalso preferably performed with a dry cutting device for the same reasonas will be described later.

The third step is a step, after the second step, of scraping the firstlateral surface 51L of the first light-transmissive member and/or thesecond lateral surface 52L of the second light-transmissive member toexpose a modified first lateral surface 51LS and/or a modified secondlateral surface 52LS, as shown in FIG. 3C. More specifically, forexample, a cutting tool 90 that is a disc-shaped rotary blade is set ata predetermined position in the Y direction, that is, at a position atwhich the blade of the cutting tool 90 has contact with at least one ofthe first lateral surface 51L and the second lateral surface 52L, withthe faces of the disc being parallel to the X direction, and the cuttingtool 90 travels in the X direction on the substrate 10 with the cuttingtool 90 being separated from the upper surface of the substrate 10. Themodified first lateral surface 51LS is a lateral surface existinginstead of the first lateral surface 51L after scraping the firstlateral surface 51L of the first light-transmissive member. The modifiedsecond lateral surface 52LS is a lateral surface existing instead of thesecond lateral surface 52L after scraping the second lateral surface 52Lof the second light-transmissive member.

The fourth step is a step, after the third step, of forming thelight-reflective covering member 70 on the substrate 10 to cover thefirst lateral surface 51L or the modified first lateral surface 51LS,and the second lateral surface 52L or the modified second lateralsurface 52LS, as shown in FIG. 3D. More specifically, for example, aliquid covering member 70 is charged in the peripheries of the firstlight-emitting element 31, the second light-emitting element 32, thefirst light-transmissive member 51, and the second light-transmissivemember 52 on the substrate 10, and the covering member 70 is cured byheat treatment in an oven or the like. At this time, for example, thecovering member 70 is formed so that the first light-transmissive member51 and the second light-transmissive member 52 will be completely buriedin the covering member 70, and the upper surface of the firstlight-transmissive member 51 and the upper surface of the secondlight-transmissive member 52 are then exposed from the covering member70 by grinding or blasting. Alternatively, the liquid covering member 70may be charged and cured while pressing the upper surface of the firstlight-transmissive member 51 and the upper surface of the secondlight-transmissive member 52 with a mold or the like so that the uppersurface of the first light-transmissive member 51 and the upper surfaceof the second light-transmissive member 52 will be exposed.

The fifth step is a step, after the fourth step, of cutting thesubstrate 10 and the covering member 70 between the first lateralsurface 51L or the modified first lateral surface 51LS, and the secondlateral surface 52L or the modified second lateral surface 52LS, asshown in FIG. 3E. More specifically, for example, a cutting tool 92 thatis a disc-shaped rotary blade is set at the center in the Y directionbetween the first lateral surface 51L or the modified first lateralsurface 51LS, and the second lateral surface 52L or the modified secondlateral surface 52LS, with the faces of the disc being parallel to the Xdirection, and the cutting tool 92 travels in the X direction to cut thesubstrate 10 and the covering member 70. At this time, the substrate 10and the covering member 70 are cut so that at least one, preferablyboth, of a portion of the covering member 70 covering the first lateralsurface 51L or the modified first lateral surface 51LS, and anotherportion of the covering member 70 covering the second lateral surface52L and the modified second lateral surface 52LS will remain. In thisfifth step, the cutting tool 92 used preferably has a thickness smallerthan the gap between the first lateral surface 51L or the modified firstlateral surface 51LS, and the second lateral surface 52L or the modifiedsecond lateral surface 52LS at the time the fourth step has beencompleted in view of ease of ensuring a sufficient thickness of thecovering member 70.

The above method for manufacturing the light-emitting device 100according to the first embodiment does not require cutting to separatethe first light-transmissive member 51 from the secondlight-transmissive member 52 because the first light-transmissive member51 and the second light-transmissive member 52 that have been divided inadvance are respectively bonded to the first light-emitting element 31and the second light-emitting element 32 separately from each other inthe second step. For this reason, cutting quantities of the firstlight-transmissive member 51 and the second light-transmissive member 52can be reduced. Even if the gap between the first lateral surface 51Land the second lateral surface 52L after completing the second step isinsufficient, the gap can be corrected by scraping the first lateralsurface 51L and/or the second lateral surface 52L in the third step. Forthis reason, the thickness of the covering member 70 charged between thefirst lateral surface 51L or the modified first lateral surface 51LS,and the second lateral surface 52L or the modified second lateralsurface 52LS can be precisely managed. Thus, the method formanufacturing the light-emitting device 100 according to the firstembodiment can ensure a sufficient thickness of the covering member 70covering the lateral surfaces of the first light-transmissive member 51and the lateral surfaces of the second light-transmissive member 52while reducing the cutting quantities of the first light-transmissivemember 51 and the second light-transmissive member 52.

Flip-chip mounting of the first light-emitting element 31 and the secondlight-emitting element 32, in other words, baking of theelectrically-conductive adhesive members 20, is usually performed at acomparatively high temperature, for example, a temperature higher thanthe temperature at the time of soldering the light-emitting device 100to the circuit substrate or the like. For this reason, deterioration ofthe first light-transmissive member 51 and the second light-transmissivemember 52 due to heat can be suppressed by bonding the firstlight-transmissive member 51 and the second light-transmissive member 52to the first light-emitting element 31 and the second light-emittingelement 32 after flip-chip mounting the first light-emitting element 31and the second light-emitting element 32. In particular, in the casewhere the first light-transmissive member 51 and the secondlight-transmissive member 52 contain the wavelength conversion substance60, deterioration of the wavelength conversion substance 60 due to heatcan be suppressed. Examples of the wavelength conversion substance 60having a comparatively low heat resistance include manganese-activatedfluoride fluorescent materials. However, in the case where the firstlight-transmissive member 51 and the second light-transmissive member 52that have been divided in advance are respectively bonded to the firstlight-emitting element 31 and the second light-emitting element 32adhering to the substrate 10, it is difficult to precisely control thegap between the first lateral surface 51L and the second lateral surface52L only with bonding techniques. The third step in the presentembodiment also solves such a problem.

The following describes a preferable aspect of the method formanufacturing the light-emitting device 100 according to the firstembodiment in detail.

In the third step, the cutting tool 90 used preferably has a thicknesslarger than the gap between the first lateral surface 51L and the secondlateral surface 52L at the time the second step has been competed, asshown in FIG. 3C. This constitution enables scraping of the firstlateral surface 51L and the second lateral surface 52L with one cuttingtool 90 at once. Accordingly, the gap between the modified first lateralsurface 51LS and the modified second lateral surface 52LS is easilymanaged, and thus the thickness of the covering member 70 to be chargedin the gap is easily managed. In addition, the first lateral surface 51Land the second lateral surface 52L can be scraped with fewer man-hours.

The first light-transmissive member 51 and the second light-transmissivemember 52 each contain the matrix 55 and the wavelength conversionsubstance 60 contained in the matrix 55, as shown in FIG. 1B and FIG.3B. The wavelength conversion substance 60 absorbs primary light fromthe first light-emitting element 31 and the second light-emittingelement 32 and emits secondary light that differs in wavelengths fromthe primary light. Before the third step, the first lateral surface 51Land the second lateral surface 52L each have projections attributable toexistence of the wavelength conversion substance 60. In this case, theseprojections are preferably chipped off in the third step. Directlycovering the projections on the first lateral surface 51L and the secondlateral surface 52L with the light-reflective covering member 70 formslight confining regions, which tend to result in losses of light. Thus,it is preferable to chip these projections off in the third step tolevel the modified first lateral surface 51LS and/or the modified secondlateral surface 52LS.

As shown in FIG. 1B and FIG. 3B, the wavelength conversion substance 60includes a first fluorescent material 61. The matrix 55 of the firstlight-transmissive member 51 and the second light-transmissive member 52is a silicone resin or a modified silicone resin. The first fluorescentmaterial 61 is preferably a SiAlON (Si—Al—O—N) fluorescent material.Particles of a SiAlON fluorescent material are comparatively hard, and asilicone resin or a modified silicone resin is a comparatively softresin. For this reason, at the time of forming the firstlight-transmissive member 51 and the second light-transmissive member52, such as singulation from the sheet, the SiAlON fluorescent materialtends to remain protruding beyond the cut surface of the silicone resinor the modified silicone resin and tends to form the projections on thefirst lateral surface 51L and the second lateral surface 52L. Thus, itis technically meaningful to chip these projections off in the thirdstep to level the modified first lateral surface 51LS and/or themodified second lateral surface 52LS.

As shown in FIG. 1B and FIG. 3B, the wavelength conversion substance 60includes a second fluorescent material 62. The second fluorescentmaterial 62 is a manganese-activated fluoride fluorescent material. Inthis case, the first lateral surface 51L and the second lateral surface52L are preferably scraped with a dry cutting device in the third step.A manganese-activated fluoride fluorescent material is preferable inview of color reproducibility because emission of light having acomparatively narrow spectral linewidth can be obtained, but thismaterial has a property of being easily deteriorated by water.Accordingly, scraping the first lateral surface 51L and the secondlateral surface 52L with a dry cutting device can suppress or preventdeterioration of the manganese-activated fluoride fluorescent materialdue to water such as cutting water and cooling water.

As shown in FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, and FIG. 3A to FIG. 3E, the shapes in atop view (front view) of the first light-emitting element 31, the secondlight-emitting element 32, the first light-transmissive member 51, andthe second light-transmissive member 52 each include two long lateralsurfaces extending in the first direction and two short lateral surfacesthat extend in the second direction perpendicular to the first directionand are shorter than the long lateral surfaces. In this case, the firstlateral surface 51L and the second lateral surface 52L are preferablythe long lateral surfaces extending in the first direction. This isbecause it is technically meaningful in view of light extractionefficiency to manage the thickness of the covering member 70 coveringthe long lateral surfaces of the first light-transmissive member 51 andthe second light-transmissive member 52.

To obtain a preferable thickness of the covering member 70, the gapbetween the modified first lateral surface 51LS and the modified secondlateral surface 52LS is preferably set in the following range. The lowerlimit is preferably equal to or more than 0.05 mm, more preferably equalto or more than 0.07 mm, in view of efficient extraction of light towardthe front direction of the device while suppressing lateral lightleakage. The upper limit is preferably equal to or less than 0.4 mm,more preferably equal to or less than 0.32 mm, in view of thinning orminiaturizing the light-emitting device.

The following describes the components of the light-emitting deviceaccording to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

(Light-Emitting Device 100)

The light-emitting device is, for example, a light-emitting diode (LED).The light-emitting device in the first embodiment is a side-view devicebut can be a top-view device. In a side-view light-emitting device, themounting direction is perpendicular to the main emitting direction. In atop-view light-emitting device, the mounting direction is parallel tothe main emitting direction. The shape in a front view, that is, theshape taken from the main emitting direction, of the light-emittingdevice can be selected as appropriate, but a rectangular shape ispreferable in terms of mass production. In particular, the shape in afront view in the case of the side-view light-emitting device ispreferably a rectangle having a longitudinal direction and a shortdirection. The shape in a front view in the case of the top-viewlight-emitting device is preferably a square. The first light-emittingelement and the second light-emitting element preferably have shapes ina front view similar to the shape of the light-emitting device.

(Substrate 10 and Substrate Piece 101)

The substrate is constituted of at least the wirings and the basesupporting the wirings. In addition, the substrate may include aninsulating protective film such as a solder mask and a coverlay. Thesame applies to the substrate piece.

(Wirings 11 and 111)

The wirings are formed at least on the upper surface (front surface) ofthe base and may be formed inside and/or on the lateral surface and/oron the lower surface (back surface) of the base. The wirings preferablyinclude the element-connecting terminal portions on which thelight-emitting elements are mounted, the external-connecting terminalportions connected to external circuits, and the lead wiring portionsconnecting these terminal portions. The wirings can be formed of copper,iron, nickel, tungsten, chromium, aluminum, silver, gold, titanium,palladium, rhodium, or an alloy of these metals. A layer or a pluralityof layers of these metals or alloys may be used. In particular, copperor a copper alloy is preferable in view of the heat dissipationperformance. Surface layers of the wirings may be layers of materialssuch as silver, platinum, aluminum, rhodium, gold, and alloys of thesemetals in view of wettability and/or light reflectivity and the like ofconnecting members.

(Bases 15 and 151)

In the case of a rigid substrate, the base can be constituted of a resinor a fiber-reinforced resin, a ceramic, glass, metal, paper, or thelike. Examples of the resin or the fiber-reinforced resin include epoxyresins, glass epoxy resins, bismaleimide-triazine (BT) resin, andpolyimides. Examples of the ceramic include aluminum oxide, aluminumnitride, zirconium oxide, zirconium nitride, titanium oxide, titaniumnitride, and mixtures of these materials. Examples of the metal includecopper, iron, nickel, chromium, aluminum, silver, gold, titanium, andalloys of these metals. In the case of a flexible substrate, the basecan be constituted of a polyimide, poly(ethylene terephthalate),poly(ethylene naphthalate), a liquid crystal polymer, a cycloolefinpolymer, or the like. Among these base materials, use of a base materialhaving physical properties similar to the linear expansion coefficientof the light-emitting element is particularly preferable.

(Electrically-Conductive Adhesive Members 20)

Any one of bumps of gold, silver, copper, or the like, a metal pastecontaining powder of a metal such as silver, gold, copper, platinum,aluminum, and palladium and a resin binder, a tin-bismuth, tin-copper,tin-silver, or gold-tin solder or the like, and a brazing filler metalsuch as a low-melting-point metal can be used as theelectrically-conductive adhesive members.

(Light-Emitting Element 30, First Light-Emitting Element 31, and SecondLight-Emitting Element 32)

The light-emitting element includes at least a semiconductor elementstructure and, in most cases, a substrate. Examples of thelight-emitting element include LED chips. The shape in a front view ofthe light-emitting element is preferably a rectangle, in particular asquare or a rectangle that is long in one direction, but other shapesmay be employed. For example, a hexagon can increase the light-emissionefficiency. The lateral surfaces of the light-emitting element or itssubstrate may be perpendicular to the upper surface or may be inclinedinward or outward. The light-emitting element preferably has positiveand negative (p and n) electrodes on the same side. The number of thelight-emitting element mounted on one light-emitting device may be oneor equal or more than two. A plurality of light-emitting elements can beconnected in series or in parallel. The semiconductor element structureincludes a layered body of semiconductor layers, that is, at least ann-type semiconductor layer and a p-type semiconductor layer. An activelayer is preferably disposed between the semiconductor layers. Thesemiconductor element structure may include positive and negativeelectrodes and/or an insulating film. The positive and negativeelectrodes can be constituted of gold, silver, tin, platinum, rhodium,titanium, aluminum, tungsten, palladium, nickel, or an alloy of thesemetals. The insulating film can be constituted of an oxide or a nitrideof at least one element selected from the group consisting of silicon,titanium, zirconium, niobium, tantalum, and aluminum. The emission peakwavelength of the light-emitting element can be selected from theultraviolet range to the infrared range depending on the semiconductormaterial or its mixing ratio of the crystal. A nitride semiconductor,which can emit short-wavelength light that can efficiently excite thewavelength conversion substance is preferably used as the semiconductormaterial. The nitride semiconductor is typically represented by thegeneral formula In_(x)Al_(y)Ga_(1-x-y)N (0≤x, 0≤y, x+y≤1). The emissionpeak wavelength of the light-emitting element is preferably equal to ormore than 400 nm and equal to or less than 530 nm, more preferably equalto or more than 420 nm and equal to or less than 490 nm, and even morepreferably equal to or more than 450 nm and equal to or less than 475 nmin view of light-emission efficiency, color mixing relations betweenexcitation of the wavelength conversion substance and its lightemission, and the like. In addition, InAlGaAs semiconductors, InAlGaPsemiconductors, zinc sulfide, zinc selenide, silicon carbide, and thelike can also be used. The substrate of the light-emitting element istypically a crystal growth substrate on which a semiconductor crystalconstituting the semiconductor element structure can be grown, but asubstrate for connecting that is connected to the semiconductor elementstructure separated from a crystal growth substrate may be employed. Alight-transmissive substrate facilitates employment of flip-chipmounting and enhancement of light extraction efficiency. Examples of thematrix of the substrate include sapphire, spinel, gallium nitride,aluminum nitride, silicon, silicon carbide, gallium arsenide, galliumphosphide, indium phosphide, zinc sulfide, zinc oxide, zinc selenide,and diamond. Among these materials, sapphire is preferable. Thethickness of the substrate is, for example, equal to or more than 0.02mm and equal to or less than 1 mm preferably equal to or more than 0.05mm and equal to or less than 0.3 mm in view of the strength of thesubstrate and the thickness of the light-emitting device.

(Light-Guiding Member 40)

The light-guiding member bonds the light-emitting element to thelight-transmissive member and guides light from the light-emittingelement to the light-transmissive member. Examples of the matrix of thelight-guiding member include silicone resins, epoxy resins, phenolicresins, polycarbonate resins, acrylic resins, and modified resins ofthese resins. Among these materials, silicone resins and modifiedsilicone resins have good heat resistance and light resistance and arethus preferable. Specific examples of silicone resins include dimethylsilicone resin, phenyl-methyl silicone resin, and diphenyl siliconeresin. The matrix of the light-guiding member may contain a fillersimilar to a filler in the matrix of the light-transmissive member to bedescribed later. The “modified resins” in the present specificationinclude hybrid resins hereinafter.

(Light-Transmissive Member 50, First Light-Transmissive Member 51, andSecond Light-Transmissive Member 52)

The light-transmissive member is disposed on the light-emitting elementand transmits light emitted from the light-emitting element to theoutside of the device. The light-transmissive member is constituted ofat least the matrix below. The light-transmissive member can function asa wavelength conversion member if the wavelength conversion substancebelow is contained in the matrix. The wavelength conversion substance isnot necessarily contained. A sintered body of the wavelength conversionsubstance and an inorganic material such as alumina, a plate-shapedcrystal of the wavelength conversion substance, or the like can be usedas the light-transmissive member.

(Matrix 55 of Light-Transmissive Member)

The matrix of the light-transmissive member is not limited as long asthe matrix is light-transmissive to light emitted from thelight-emitting element. The term “light-transmissive” means that thelight transmittance at the emission peak wavelength of thelight-emitting element is preferably equal to or more than 60%, morepreferably equal to or more than 70%, and even more preferably equal toor more than 80%. A silicone resin, an epoxy resin, a phenolic resin, apolycarbonate resin, an acrylic resin, or a modified resin of theseresins can be used as the matrix of the light-transmissive member. Glassmay also be employed. Among these materials, silicone resins andmodified silicone resins have good heat resistance and light resistanceand are thus preferable. Specific examples of silicone resins includedimethyl silicone resin, phenyl-methyl silicone resin, and diphenylsilicone resin. The light-transmissive member may be constituted of alayer of one of these matrices or may be constituted by layering equalto or more than two of these matrices.

The matrix of the light-transmissive member may contain any of variousfillers in any of the above resins or glass. Examples of the fillersinclude silicon oxide, aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, and zinc oxide.These fillers can be used singly or in combination of equal to or morethan two. In particular, silicon oxide, which has a small coefficient ofthermal expansion, is preferable. Using nanoparticles as the filler canincrease scattering including Rayleigh scattering of blue light from thelight-emitting element and reduce the quantity of the wavelengthconversion substance used. The nanoparticles are particles having graindiameters of equal to or more than 1 nm and equal to or less than 100nm. The “grain diameter” in the present specification, for example, isdefined as D₅₀.

(Wavelength Conversion Substance 60)

The wavelength conversion substance absorbs at least part of the primarylight emitted from the light-emitting element and emits the secondarylight that differs in wavelengths from the primary light. This canprovide a light-emitting device that emits mixed light, such as whitelight, of the primary light having visible wavelengths and the secondarylight having visible wavelengths. Specific examples below of thewavelength conversion substance can be used singly or in combination ofequal to or more than two.

(First Fluorescent Material 61 and Second Fluorescent Material 62)

The first fluorescent material and the second fluorescent material canbe selected from the specific examples below as appropriate. Forexample, the first fluorescent material can be a fluorescent materialthat emits green or yellow light, and the second fluorescent materialcan be a fluorescent material that emits red light. Examples of thefluorescent material that emits green light includeyttrium-aluminum-garnet fluorescent materials (for example,Y₃(Al,Ga)₅O₁₂:Ce), lutetium-aluminum-garnet fluorescent materials (forexample, Lu₃(Al,Ga)₅O₁₂:Ce), terbium-aluminum-garnet fluorescentmaterials (for example, Tb₃(Al,Ga)₅O₁₂:Ce) fluorescent materials,silicate fluorescent materials (for example, (Ba,Sr)₂SiO₄:Eu),chlorosilicate fluorescent materials (for example, Ca₈Mg(SiO₄)₄Cl₂:Eu),β-SiAlON fluorescent materials (for example,Si_(6-z)Al_(z)O_(z)N_(8-z):Eu (0<z<4.2)), and SGS fluorescent materials(for example, SrGa₂S₄:Eu). Examples of the fluorescent material thatemits yellow light include α-SiAlON fluorescent materials (for example,M_(z)(Si,Al)₁₂(O,N)₁₆ (where 0<z≤2, M is Li, Mg, Ca, Y, or a lanthanoidelement except for La and Ce)). Some of the above fluorescent materialsthat emit green light emit yellow light. For example, yellow light canbe obtained by substituting part of Y in an yttrium-aluminum-garnetfluorescent material with Gd to shift its emission peak wavelength to alonger wavelength. These materials also include fluorescent materialsthat can emit orange light. Examples of the fluorescent material thatemits red light include nitrogen-containing calcium aluminosilicate(CASN or SCASN) fluorescent materials (for example, (Sr,Ca)AlSiN₃:Eu).The examples also include manganese-activated fluoride fluorescentmaterials (fluorescent materials represented by the general formula (I)A₂[M_(1-a)Mn_(a)F₆] (in the general formula (I), A is at least oneselected from the group consisting of K, Li, Na, Rb, Cs, and NH₄, M isat least one element selected from the group consisting of the Group 4elements and the Group 14 elements, and a satisfies 0<a<0.2)). Typicalexamples of the manganese-activated fluoride fluorescent materialsinclude manganese-activated potassium fluorosilicate fluorescentmaterials (for example, K₂SiF₆:Mn).

(Light-Reflective Covering Members 70 and 701)

The light reflectance of the light-reflective covering member at theemission peak wavelength of the light-emitting element is preferablyequal to or more than 70%, more preferably equal to or more than 80%,and even more preferably equal to or more than 90%, in view of forwardlight extraction efficiency. In addition, the covering member ispreferably white. Thus, the covering member preferably contains thewhite pigment in the matrix. The covering member goes through a liquidstate before being cured. The covering member can be formed by transfermolding, injection molding, compression molding, potting, or the like.

(Matrix 75 of Covering Member)

The matrix of the covering member can be a resin, and examples of theresin include silicone resins, epoxy resins, phenolic resins,polycarbonate resins, acrylic resins, and modified resins of theseresins. Among these resins, silicone resins and modified silicone resinshave good heat resistance and light resistance and are thus preferable.Specific examples of silicone resins include dimethyl silicone resin,phenyl-methyl silicone resin, and diphenyl silicone resin. The matrix ofthe covering member may contain a filler similar to the above filler inthe matrix of the light-transmissive member.

(White Pigment 77)

As the white pigment, one of titanium oxide, zinc oxide, magnesiumoxide, magnesium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide, calcium carbonate,calcium hydroxide, calcium silicate, magnesium silicate, bariumtitanate, barium sulfate, aluminum hydroxide, aluminum oxide, andzirconium oxide can be used singly, or equal to or more than two ofthese materials can be used in combination. The shape of the whitepigment is not limited to particular shapes. The shape may be indefiniteor crushed, but is preferably spherical in view of fluidity. The graindiameter of the white pigment is, for example, about equal to or morethan 0.1 μm and equal to or less than 0.5 μm but smaller grain diametersare preferable to enhance effects of light reflection and covering. Thecontent of the white pigment in the light-reflective covering member canbe selected as appropriate. In view of light reflectivity, the viscosityin a liquid state, and the like, the content is, for example, preferablyequal to or more than 10 wt % and equal to or less than 80 wt %, morepreferably equal to or more than 20 wt % and equal to or less than 70 wt%, and even more preferably equal to or more than 30 wt % and equal toor less than 60 wt %. The term “wt %” means percentage by weight, thatis, the proportion of the weight of a material of interest to the totalweight of the light-reflective covering member.

Example

The following describes an example according to the present disclosurein detail. Needless to say, the present disclosure is not limited to thefollowing example only.

Example 1

A light-emitting device in Example 1 is a side-view LED with a width(lateral) of 1.8 mm, a thickness (longitudinal) of 0.32 mm, and a depthof 0.70 mm having the structure of the light-emitting device 100 shownin FIGS. 1A and 1B.

The size of a substrate piece 101 is 1.8 mm in width (lateral), 0.32 mmin thickness (longitudinal), and 0.36 mm in depth. A base 151 is arectangular-cuboid piece made of BT resin (for example, HL832NSF typeLCA manufactured by Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc.). A pair ofpositive and negative wirings 111 are made of copper/nickel/gold layeredfrom the base 151 side. The pair of positive and negative wirings 111each include an element-connecting terminal portion formed on thecentral side in the lateral direction on the front surface of the base151, a lead wiring portion, and an external-connecting terminal portionthat is exposed on the left/right side from a covering member 701 to bedescribed later and is formed from the left/right end portion of thefront surface of the base 151 to the left/right end portion of the backsurface through the lateral surface. The copper layer of theelement-connecting terminal portion includes a projection having a depthof 0.04 mm.

One light-emitting element 30 is flip-chip mounted on theelement-connecting terminal portions of the pair of positive andnegative wirings 111 via electrically-conductive adhesive members 20.The light-emitting element 30 is a rectangular-cuboid LED chip thatincludes an n-type layer, an active layer, and a p-type layer, each ofwhich are made of a nitride semiconductor, layered in order on asapphire substrate. The light-emitting element 30 can emit blue(emission peak wavelength of 452 nm) light and has a width (lateral) of1.1 mm, a thickness (longitudinal) of 0.2 mm, and a depth of 0.12 mm.The electrically-conductive adhesive members 20 are gold-tin solder(Au:Sn=79:21) and have a depth of 0.015 mm.

On the light-emitting element 30, a light-transmissive member 50 isbonded with a light-guiding member 40 sandwiched therebetween. Thelight-transmissive member 50 is a rectangular-cuboid piece having awidth (lateral) of 1.21 mm, a thickness (longitudinal) of 0.24 mm, and adepth of 0.16 mm in which a phenyl-methyl silicone resin matrix 55containing silicon oxide nanoparticles as a filler contains, as awavelength conversion substance 60, europium-activated β-SiAlON, whichis a first fluorescent material 61, and manganese-activated potassiumfluorosilicate, which is a second fluorescent material 62. Thelight-transmissive member 50 is made of a layer of the matrix 55 and thefirst fluorescent material 61, a layer of the matrix 55 and the secondfluorescent material 62, and a layer of the matrix 55, each of which islayered in this order from the light-emitting element 30 side. Thelight-guiding member 40 is a cured product of dimethyl silicone resinhaving a depth of 0.005 mm.

The light-reflective covering member 701 is formed on the front surfaceof the substrate piece 101 to encompass the entire side peripheries ofthe light-emitting element 30 and the light-transmissive member 50. Thecovering member 701 has a width (lateral) of 1.35 mm and a thickness(longitudinal) of 0.32 mm and includes a matrix 75 that is a curedproduct of phenyl-methyl silicone resin, and 60 wt % of titanium oxideas a white pigment 77. The covering member 701 directly covers thelateral surfaces of the light-emitting element 30, the lateral surfacesof the light-guiding member 40, and the lateral surfaces of thelight-transmissive member 50. The front surface of the covering member701 and the front surface of the light-transmissive member 50 constituteapproximately the same surface.

The light-emitting device in Example 1 is produced as follows. In thisExample 1, a substrate 10 having a structure shown in FIG. 2 is used.

(First Step)

A plurality of light-emitting elements including a first light-emittingelement 31 and a second light-emitting element 32 are aligned in thelongitudinal direction, that is, in the Y direction, and are eachflip-chip mounted on the substrate 10 so that the light-emittingelements will be separated from one another. More specifically, agold-tin solder paste that is to be the electrically-conductive adhesivemember 20 is applied to each element-connecting terminal portion ofwirings 11 on the substrate 10, each light-emitting element is mountedon the paste, and the gold-tin solder is then molten by reflow (in whichthe highest temperature is 320° C.) and solidified. At this time, thelight-emitting elements are aligned so that the light-emitting elementswill be long in the lateral direction, that is, in the X direction, thatis, so that their long lateral surfaces will face each other. Theinterval (center-to-center distance) between the first light-emittingelement 31 and the second light-emitting element 32 is 0.37 mm.

(Second Step)

Next, the light-transmissive members are respectively bonded to thelight-emitting elements with the light-guiding members sandwichedtherebetween to form a plurality of light-emitting structures. That is,at least the first light-transmissive member 51 is bonded to the firstlight-emitting element 31 with one light-guiding member 40 sandwichedtherebetween, and the second light-transmissive member 52 is bonded tothe second light-emitting element 32 with another light-guiding member40 sandwiched therebetween. At this time, a first lateral surface 51L,which is one of the long lateral surfaces of a first light-transmissivemember 51, is separated from and faces a second lateral surface 51L,which is one of the long lateral surfaces of a second light-transmissivemember 52. More specifically, a liquid resin that is to be thelight-guiding members 40 is applied to each of the first light-emittingelement 31 and the second light-emitting element 32, the firstlight-transmissive member 51 and the second light-transmissive member 52are respectively mounted on the liquid resin, and the resin is cured byheating in an oven. The gap between the first lateral surface 51L andthe second lateral surface 52L in this case is 0.08 to 0.09 mm. Eachlight-transmissive member is produced by cutting a sheet into pieceswith a dry cutting device having an ultrasonic cutter as a cuttingblade. The sheet is formed by bonding a first sheet made of the matrix55 and a first fluorescent material 61, a second sheet made of thematrix 55 and a second fluorescent material 61, and a third sheet madeof the matrix 55 by thermocompression bonding in this order. At thistime, the first lateral surface 51L and the second lateral surface 52Leach have projections typically attributable to existence of the firstfluorescent material 61 that is β-SiAlON.

(Third Step)

Next, the long lateral surface of the light-transmissive member of eachlight-emitting structure is scraped. That is, at least the first lateralsurface 51L of the first light-transmissive member and/or the secondlateral surface 52L of the second light-transmissive member are scrapedto expose a modified first lateral surface 51LS and/or a modified secondlateral surface 52LS. More specifically, a cutting tool 90 that is adicing blade having a thickness of 0.13 mm included in the dry cuttingdevice is set at a position in the Y direction at which the blade of thecutting tool 90 has contact with at least one of the first lateralsurface 51L and the second lateral surface 52L, with the faces of theblade being parallel to the X direction, and the cutting tool 90 travelsin the X direction on the substrate 10. This procedure chips theprojections off and levels the modified first lateral surface 51LS andthe modified second lateral surface 52LS. After this procedure, shortlateral surfaces of the light-transmissive member of each light-emittingstructure may be scraped in the same manner.

(Fourth Step)

Next, a light-reflective covering member 70 for covering the lateralsurfaces of each light-emitting structure is formed on the substrate 10.More specifically, the covering member 70 is formed on the substrate 10with a transfer molding machine so that a plurality of light-emittingstructures aligned in the Y direction will be completely buried in thecovering member 70 that is one rectangular-cuboid block. The coveringmember 70 is then ground from above with a grinding device to expose theupper surface of each light-transmissive member.

(Fifth Step)

Finally, the substrate 10 and the covering member 70 are cut between thelight-emitting structures to singulate the light-emitting device 100.More specifically, a cutting tool 92 that is a dicing blade having athickness of 0.05 mm is set at the center in the Y direction between thefirst lateral surface 51L or the modified first lateral surface 51LS,and the second lateral surface 52L or the modified second lateralsurface 52LS, with the faces of the blade being parallel to the Xdirection, and the cutting tool 92 travels in the X direction to cut thesubstrate 10 and the covering member 70.

A light-emitting device according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure can be used for backlight devices of liquid-crystal displays,various lighting apparatuses, large format displays, various displaysfor advertisements or destination guide, and projectors, as well as forimage scanners for apparatuses such as digital video cameras, facsimilemachines, copying machines, and scanners.

The above disclosed subject matter shall be considered illustrative, andnot restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all suchmodifications, enhancements, and other embodiments which fall within thetrue spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Thus, to the maximumextent allowed by law, the scope of the present disclosure may bedetermined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the followingclaims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited bythe foregoing detailed description.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of manufacturing a light-emittingdevice, the method comprising: applying a light-guiding member to alight-emitting element; mounting a light-transmissive member on thelight-guiding member, and curing the light-guiding member, thelight-transmissive member including lateral surfaces each havingprojections; narrowing a width of the light-transmissive member to chipthe projections of the lateral surfaces off and form modified lateralsurfaces; and covering the modified lateral surfaces of thelight-transmissive member and lateral surfaces of the light-guidingmember with a covering member.
 2. The method according to claim 1,wherein the light-transmissive member is cut by a dry cutting devicebefore the mounting step.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein inthe narrowing step, the width of the light-transmissive member isnarrowed on the light-guiding member by using a dry cutting device. 4.The method according to claim 1, wherein the narrowing step furtherincludes narrowing a width of the light-guiding member.
 5. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the light-transmissive member comprises amanganese-activated fluoride fluorescent material.
 6. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the light-transmissive member comprises aβ-SiAlON fluorescent material.
 7. The method according to claim 1,wherein the light-transmissive member includes a layer comprising aβ-SiAlON fluorescent material and a layer comprising amanganese-activated fluoride fluorescent material that are stacked witheach other.
 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein thelight-transmissive member comprises a silicone resin or a modifiedsilicone resin.
 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein an emissionpeak wavelength of the light-emitting element is equal to or more than400 nm and equal to or less than 530 nm.
 10. The method according toclaim 1, wherein the narrowing of the width includes scraping thelateral surfaces of the light-transmissive member mounted on thelight-guiding member to form the modified lateral surfaces.
 11. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the narrowing of the width includesscraping the lateral surfaces of the light-transmissive member mountedon the light-guiding member to form the modified lateral surfaces.